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Dental pain (toothache) can appear in different forms and can be described as:

• Sharp pain

• Continuous pain

• Diffuse pain

It goes without saying that whenever you experience any symptoms in your oral cavity, the proper step is to visit your dentist.

However, there are situations where toothache occurs but visiting the dentist immediately is difficult—such as during holidays—raising the question whether you can wait or should seek immediate care.

Below we list common examples of pain, mostly due to dental causes.

Sharp pain
Sharp pain is usually sudden and brief, lasting only while the triggering stimulus is present or a few seconds more.

1.Examples include pain from cold drinks, sweets, or sour foods. It may also occur during brushing.

This type of pain usually relates to non-urgent issues such as small cavities, gum recession (gum pulling back), or old and worn fillings that need replacement.

2.Sharp pain during chewing
This type of pain is more concerning. Patients often avoid chewing on that side.

The dentist will look for cavities, broken fillings, cracked teeth, or inflammation of the pulp (inside the tooth). Treatment varies depending on findings.

3.Sharp pain lasting a few seconds after a recent filling
After a deep filling close to the nerve, you may experience sensitivity to hot or cold foods and drinks.
This is usually temporary and should be monitored for 2-3 weeks. If it persists, consult your dentist.

Continuous – Diffuse pain
Pain that starts after consuming hot or cold foods/drinks but continues for several minutes after the stimulus has stopped usually indicates irreversible damage to the pulp, often requiring root canal treatment.
Severe continuous pain can be diffuse, sometimes affecting an entire region and may be accompanied by swelling or gum enlargement near the affected tooth. Immediate dental care is necessary, or at least a phone consultation for guidance. This often indicates an infection or abscess requiring root canal or extraction.

Another example of continuous pain is related to upper teeth in cases of sinusitis or rhinitis. Sometimes a patient with a cold feels mild discomfort in the upper teeth due to referred pain. In such cases, an ENT specialist should be consulted.

Continuous mild pain, especially in the morning, sometimes with pain in the temporomandibular joints (TMJ), may be due to nighttime teeth grinding or clenching. While not urgent, you should visit your dentist soon for a protective night guard.

Pain near the jaw angle, sometimes radiating to the ear, accompanied by difficulty opening the mouth, is often due to a wisdom tooth erupting and causing swelling of the surrounding gums.
If the pain lasts a few days then subsides only to return later, it might be normal eruptive pain. Mild pain can be managed with improved oral hygiene and dental advice by phone. If pain worsens or becomes diffuse, prompt dental evaluation is needed.

The above serves as a guide for situations when immediate dental access is difficult. Final diagnosis should always be made by a dentist after clinical examination.